Capable and Candid Portland Social Security Disability Attorney

Many people find themselves in need of assistance after they have become disabled or injured, have been wrongfully denied benefits or compensation, and are enduring financial hardship. My name is Sara L. Gabin, and I have been a Social Security lawyer serving Portland and many other areas of Oregon since 1981. It is my goal to help each of my clients receive the compensation they deserve, whether it is in the form of Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or a recovery from an accident injury.

Each legal action is unique, and it is my role as your advocate to make sure your needs are met and that you understand your rights throughout the process. I am dedicated to giving your case the care and attention it needs to bring about the best possible outcome for you. If you believe you’ve been improperly denied Social Security disability benefits or workers’ compensation benefits, or if you feel overwhelmed with the insurance companies when seeking personal injury damages after an accident, contact me to discuss your situation.

HELP WITH YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME CLAIMS

As a Social Security attorney practicing in the Portland area for over 30 years, I have seen the struggles that people endure when they are too sick to work and need to deal with the complexities of applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits. I make it my mission to ease this process by providing the legal support and knowledge that my clients need.

An individual may qualify as disabled if he or she has been unable to work a 40-hour workweek for a period of 12 continuous months. After identifying a disability that is confirmed by a doctor, a claimant may apply for the following benefits:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Candidates for SSDI are people who have become disabled after having earned a certain amount of “work credits.” Successful claimants will have shown that the disability occurred while they still paid for insurance coverage that included SSDI benefits.

Disabled Adult Child (DAC): DAC candidates are people who have become retired, disabled, or deceased before the age of 22 and may be eligible to receive benefits based on a deceased parent’s earning history.

Disabled Widows Income (DWI): Candidates for DWI benefits are disabled individuals whose spouses have passed away. These candidates must show they were married for at least 10 years and that the disability arose within seven years after the spouse’s death.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is a benefit available to individuals with disabilities who do not have an earnings record sufficient to qualify for SSDI. SSI benefits are only available for disabled claimants whose asset and household incomes fall within certain guidelines.

I assist my clients in the initial application process, if they need or want my assistance at that step. Most often, however, I represent claimants after an application is denied, through the next four levels of appeal - reconsideration, hearing, appeals council review, and federal court review. No matter what level of appeal you find yourself at, strict time limits apply. You have only 60-days to appeal a denial, starting five-days from the date you received the unfavorable decision.

HELP WITH YOUR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM

If you’ve been injured at work, it is important that you both report the injury to your employer and seek medical treatment promptly. Notice to your employer should always be in writing, and you should keep a copy for your records. A detailed account should be provided as soon as possible to establish the basis for showing the work activities that were the cause of your harm, in case future disputes arise. Job-related injuries can be in the form of a single accident event, for example an accident involving the use of machinery. They can also come in the form of an occupational disease, such as a repetitive use injury that occurs gradually over weeks, months or years.

Although the process of filing a workers’ compensation insurance claim may seem daunting when you are focusing on the more pressing matter of trying to do your job or getting back to health, it is important to file a claim as quickly as possible so that you can get back on your feet both physically and financially. In Oregon, the available benefits may include medical costs, time loss benefits of two-thirds your average weekly wage, permanent disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation costs if you are unable to return to your previous position.

If your employer fails to assist you in filing your workers’ compensation claim, denies a claim improperly, or closes your claim, you should contact a seasoned attorney to help assert your rights. The time limits are inflexible when appealing a denial of compensation or claim closure. An appeal must be filed within 60-days from the date printed on the denial or Notice of Closure you receive. I represent clients in appeals, claim closures, medical services disputes, mediation and settlements, and third-party claims.

HELP WITH YOUR PERSONAL INJURY OR NEGLIGENCE CLAIM

When you have been hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, you may seek compensation for your harm by making a claim for personal injury with the at fault party’s insurance carrier, and, later, as is often necessary, by filing a personal injury lawsuit. I represent clients in an array of accident cases, including those involving car crashes, slip and falls, third-party claims that occur while you are at work, and medical malpractice.

Personal injury claims require proving that the defendant owed the victim a duty of care and breached this duty with some careless action. For example, a driver has a duty of care to others on the road to drive as a reasonable person would in similar circumstances. A person who is distracted by his or her phone and causes a crash as a result likely would be found to have breached this duty. The same is true of a property owner who neglects his property and allows an unsafe condition to occur that injures those who come onto his property by permission or invitation. You must show that your injuries are the result of that careless action, and must be able to identify quantifiable damages. These can include both economic harm, such as medical bills and lost income, and non-economic harm, such as pain and suffering.

Consult a Portland Social Security Disability Lawyer

As an experienced Social Security attorney helping Portland residents and injured individuals elsewhere in Oregon, I work carefully in evaluating each and every case to make sure I have the entire story so I can pursue all claims appropriately and fight for your rights. My physical office address is in Lake Oswego. My clients come from Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill Counties. I provide candid legal advice regarding your situation and the possible outcomes for your Social Security, workers’ compensation, or injury claim. Additionally, my fees are strictly contingent, which means that I only get paid if you successfully receive benefits or recover damages. If you believe you need a Portland Social Security Disability attorney to help you pursue what is due to you, contact me at (503) 620-3171 or through our online form to discuss your case.

We serve the following localities: Clackamas County including Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, and West Linn; Marion County including Salem, Woodburn, and Hayesville; Multnomah County including Gresham and Portland; Washington County including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, and Tualatin; and Yamhill County including Newberg.